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Stoke 0 West Ham 0: Jack Butland and Adrian perform heroics in goal as mid-table sides share point
England boss Gareth Southgate was in attendance to watch the two sides battle out a draw
KEEPERS Jack Butland and Adrian were in fine form as both sides failed to break the deadlock in an entertaining encounter at the Bet365.
With both sides already ensuring their Premier League survival, the clash was expected to be an open affair.
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But a drab start soon sprung into life when Butland had to be at the top of his game to deny Andre Ayew's impressive overhead kick after 30 minutes.
And the Hammers fans were left scratching their heads when Jonathan Calleri was gifted a golden opportunity but decided to pull off a rabona which was blocked by Bruno Martins Indi.
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Stoke's best chance of the half almost fell to Marko Arnautovic after some neat work by Glen Johnson but an important interception from Jose Fonte prevented the opening goal.
Mark Hughes obviously game his side a rollicking at half-time as the Potters came out with greater threat.
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Xherdan Shaqiri stung the fingertips of Adrian before Joe Allen's piledriver was straight down the throat of the keeper.
Saido Berahino then came close to grabbing his first Stoke goal but his strike was really well saved once again.
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It was Butland's time to keep the scores level when he made two quick saves to deny Ayew as both sides pushed for a winner.
Shaqiri produced a wonderful ball to Arnautovic but Adrian stood firm to deny the Austrian from close range.
Peter Crouch almost grabbed a winner but his header flew harmlessly over the bar.
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FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
- Jack Butland plays his first home game of the season after a serious ankle injury.
- England boss Gareth Southgate is at the game to check on the keeper.
- West Ham are hit by injuries and keep same team that drew 0-0 with Everton last week.
- Winston Reid makes good early block in the 8th minute from Saido Berahino, lookiong for his first goal since signing for Stoke in January.
- Butland makes a great block from an overhead kick by Andre Ayew’s spectacular overhead kick from eight yards out.
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- West Ham waste three good chances in the first half. Striker Jon Calleri puts one way over the bar and also tries a ridiculous rabona in the box because he doesnt trust his left foot.
- Butland also gave his team a scare, hopelessly miskicking an attempted clearance under pressure in the first half.
- Butland makes superb double save in second half - first from Ayew’s dipping shot then with his foot on the line from a header by Manuel Lanzini.
- West Ham keeper Adrian makes save on his chest from Marko Arnautovic volley in the 73rd minute.
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Next three fixtures
Stoke
May 6 - Bournemouth (A) - Prem
May 13 - Arsenal (H) - Prem
May 21 - Southampton (A) - Prem
West Ham
May 5 - Spurs (H) - Prem
May 14 - Liverpool (H) - Prem
May 21 - Burnley (A) - Prem
PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
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SOCIAL SAYS
WHAT THEY SAID
Stoke boss Mark Hughes: "It was a difficult game for us in terms of being able to break down West Ham. We needed to be a little bit more clinical in terms of that final ball, but in terms of effort and trying to affect the game, we were the team that was trying to win it.
"As it was, they're more happy with the result than we are. For them it's a good away point. We had some good moments and just needed a big toe to get on the end of one of those.
"In fairness Jack Butland made a couple of good saves. It's good to have him back and he looks good at the minute I have to say."
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West Ham boss Slaven Bilic: "We defended as a team and limited them to a couple of chances. The big one was from Arnautovic but offensively we played really good. We created four or five chances but the problem is that we didn’t score.
"Butland made that save against Ayew which was great reflexes from him. Brilliant from close range and he made three saves in one action so big credit for them.
"The clean sheet is giving the defenders a big dose of self-confidence, but we created more than enough chances to score a goal."
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
Stoke: Butland 7, Johnson 7, Shawcross 7, Martins Indi 7, Muniesa 6, Whelan 6 (Adam 80, 5), Cameron 7, Shaqiri 6, Allen 6 (Crouch 70, 6), Arnautovic 6, Berahino 6
Subs not used: Grant, Bardsley, Pieters, Diouf, Sobhi
Booked: Muniesa
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West Ham: Adrian 7, Fonte 8, Reid 7, Collins 7, Fernandes 6, Kouyate 8, Nordtveit 6, Masuaku 7 (Cresswell 46, 6) Lanzini 8, Ayew 6 (Noble 69, 6), Calleri 6 (Snodgrass 80, 5)
Subs not used: Randolph, Byram, Fletcher, Feghouli
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